Chapter 14: Talia's Professional Judgment
Chapter 14: Talia's Professional Judgment
Most of the time, they sat quietly, gazing out at the scenery rushing by outside the window.
Unmoving.
Unfamiliar yet captivating landscapes flashed by at high speed, only to disappear from view in an instant.
After a full day of traveling, it was now midday on the second day.
Leaning his chin on one hand, Lanchi tore his gaze away from the ever-changing scenery outside and glanced at the clock inside the train carriage.
As sparse buildings and pastures that signaled the outskirts of a city began to appear, he sensed that they were nearing their destination.
"By the way, Talia, what is your understanding of the Shadow World?"
It seemed that he had finally grown tired of the view and turned to ask Talia a question.
As the highest-difficulty random dungeon that was not yet fully explored according to his original knowledge, Lanchi had also found a wealth of information about the "Shadow World" in the books of this world.
However, the enigmatic "Shadow World" was far more complex than he had imagined, completely transforming into an endless array of perilous dungeons in this real world.
And the Icicle Magic Academy that he was about to visit was initially established with the goal of "cultivating individuals capable of conquering the Shadow World."
Naturally, the entrance examination would be related to this goal.
"Neglecting the Shadow World or failing to conquer it will unleash a natural disaster somewhere in the world, but completing it will grant one power and wealth."
Talia replied without moving her eyes, maintaining her usual concise manner of answering Lanchi's questions about magic cards, even before she agreed to be his teacher.
Lanchi nodded at her response and didn't press further.
Just as it was written in the books.
To the people of this world, the Shadow World was like a double-edged sword.
Conquering a Shadow World would yield abundant rewards, including core materials for crafting magic cards and naturally occurring magic cards that were more powerful than their artificially created counterparts.
However, failing to conquer it would unleash a natural disaster somewhere in the world, and if left unattended, the Shadow World would automatically close after a certain period, leading to calamities consuming the present world.
Therefore, nations and powerful forces worldwide were devoting all their efforts to nurturing individuals skilled in conquering the Shadow World.
"The Shadow World... appears without warning through fixed or random entrances in this world, and they are projections of historical fragments from this world or alternate dimensions."
Talia added, fulfilling her duty as a teacher by offering slightly more information when it came to questions about magic cards.
Merely a little more, though.
"I see..."
Lanchi murmured thoughtfully.
According to the books in the Border Library, the Shadow World opened periodically and in infinite numbers, each with potentially different timelines and worldviews. Some were relaxed and simple, while others were exceptionally dangerous.
Upon entering a Shadow World, individuals would assume unpredictable new identities to play out the historical fragments.
Consequently, no weapons, disguises, or ordinary magical tools could be brought into the Shadow World.
Except for magic cards bound to one's soul.
This was why magic cards had become the predominant tool of this era—they provided indispensable assistance when tackling the Shadow World.
Indeed, the Shadow World and magic cards seemed to share an inscrutable causal relationship. The raw materials for magic cards had to be sourced from the Shadow World, yet it was these very magic cards that made it easier for people of the present world to conquer the Shadow Worlds.
One could only wonder how the ancient beings of the pioneering era had managed to clear those hellish dungeons without the aid of magic cards...
"We're here."
Talia's voice, like droplets of water falling onto ice, interrupted Lanchi's train of thought.
He turned his head to see that the scenery outside had come to a slow halt, revealing a station with a roof constructed from reddish-brown bricks.
The soaring towers at both ends of the building gave it an air of grandeur and solemnity, and the interior of the station was adorned with intricate marble columns, murals, and stained glass windows that spoke of its rich history.
Unlike the southern border city-state of South Ventina, this royal city of Icelyte managed to retain much of its historical elements while exuding grandeur and prosperity.
Without hesitation, Lanchi retrieved his suitcase from the luggage rack and disembarked from the train with Talia.
...
As they walked through the concourse of the Icelyte Central Station, the bustling noises gradually faded.
Lanchi and Talia made their way to a spacious square and boarded a small carriage designed for sightseeing, embarking on a new journey through the city.
The afternoon sun shone gently on the carriage, swaying leisurely and exuding a sense of tranquility.
From a distance, one could admire the tulips and lotuses blooming together in the Royal Botanical Gardens, where a myriad of colorful plants created a misty, verdant landscape.
The clopping of horse hooves echoed along the ancient cobblestone streets, and the wheels of the carriage rumbled softly. Even while sitting in the carriage, Lanchi could observe the unique architectural style of Icelyte: grand houses with brick-red walls, peaked roofs, and intricate ancient carvings.
As the carriage passed by the winding canal, the gentle breeze stirred ripples on the water, reflecting the graceful swaying of the willow trees.
"Would you like to walk around the campus with me later?" Lanchi turned to Talia and asked.
"What do you think?" Talia countered his seemingly friendly but audacious invitation.
Since she had to protect Lanchi, she didn't have much of a choice, even though she still had no clue who this person was that wanted to kill Lanchi after three months of trying to figure it out.
The only thing she knew for certain was that Lanchi wasn't lying when he said someone wanted to kill him.
Along the way, the carriage crossed an ancient stone bridge. The mottled beige bricks bore the marks of time, and below, the canal water gently lapped against the stone piers, creating a peaceful sound. Overhead, a flock of seagulls soared freely in the sky.
"I don't have a choice," Lanchi said, closing his eyes and spreading his hands. "Today's visit to the academy is very important to me."
Unlike the Alchemical Institute and the Magic Engineering Institute, the Knight Institute and the Sage Institute had already begun the first part of their entrance examinations, which was the attribute test.
If one's attribute growth potential was too poor, they might not even be eligible to participate in the formal examinations.
As the enrollment goal of both the Knight Institute and the Sage Institute was to cultivate scarce talents capable of tackling high-level Shadow Worlds, once inside a Shadow World, not only would the challenger face extreme danger, but the lives of their companions and the fate of the present world would also be at stake. Therefore, the entrance examinations for these two institutes had strict requirements for the practical qualities of the candidates.
Passing the first part, the attribute test, the formal examination, or the second part, would involve an artificially simulated Shadow World to assess the students' actual abilities. The final examination, or the third part, would be a functional combat test arranged by the faculty.
After thorough research on the academies, Lanchi ultimately decided to change his choice of institute from the Alchemical Institute to the Sage Institute, which specialized in practical magic combat.
Due to his innate attributes and functional compatibility, he had little hope of passing the first stage of the Knight Institute's examination.
"...”
Talia remained silent.
She was well aware of Lanchi's itinerary and the challenges he would face in the upcoming examination, which he had shared with her.
However, based on her long life as an immortal species and her extensive travels through the demon world and various human nations, she still couldn't pinpoint what kind of combat role Lanchi would be suited for.
Let the Icelyte Academy deal with this headache-inducing problem.
After all, she wouldn't be the one facing the brunt of it.
(End of Chapter)
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